Just Beyond the Curve

by Larry Huddleston

CHAPTER SEVEN

  When John and Judy came through the front door of the hotel the tour bus was waiting at the curb. Every window was filled with one or two smiling, knowing faces.

  As they neared, the front door of the bus swished open with a sound of released, compressed air. When John assisted Judy up the steps and onto the bus, they were both met with good natured laughter, catcalls, wolf whistles and suggestions that all knew what the newlyweds had been up to all night long.

  With their faces as red as they had ever been, the two newlyweds found their reserved seats and sat down, grateful that the bus was pulling away from the curb and into the flow of traffic.

  “They all know what we been doin’,” John whispered softly to Judy. “How’d they find out?”

  “All newlyweds and married people do it,” Judy assured him. “Even people who aren’t married.”

  “I know that, but how’d they find out that we was doin it?”

  “Because we’re newlyweds,” Judy assured him, patting his hand gently.

  “They’re a lot smarter than me,” John replied. “I’d never think that about someone I didn’t know very good, even if they was newlyweds!”

  “You’re smart where it counts, John,” Judy assured him.

  “I guess,” he answered doubtfully, watching Allen coming down the center aisle toward them.

  “You two look like hell run over!” he grinned knowingly, causing them both to flush scarlet once again.

  “I sure feel good to look that bad,” John assured him.

  “I’ll bet you do,” Allen said with a smile, glancing at Judy. She quickly looked out the window to hide her embarrassment. “Surprises me you’re still walkin,” he added.

  “We’re not,” John said seriously. “We’re sitting, ridin’ on the bus, Allen.”

  Allen looked at John with a blank expression. He wondered if John was being facetious or just plain ignorant. “Never mind,” he said. “Your gear’s on board. You’ll need to warm up. The D-10s in the back.”

  “Warm up?” John asked with a confused look on his face. “I’m quite comfortable, Allen.”

  “Practice,” Allen said wondering if John was just messing with him. “To get your fingers and voice warmed up some.”

  “I’m okay, honest,” John replied looking Allen straight in the eyes.

  “It’s your future, Son. You decide what’s best for it,” Allen said, then stood and went back down the aisle to his seat. John watched him go. He turned to Judy and took her hand in his. When he glanced over at her she was sound asleep. He smiled and closed his eyes.

  When he opened them again they were driving through downtown Houston. John watched the reflection of the bus waver along the plate glass windows. He saw people on the street look at the bus and wave excitedly. He waved back, not thinking about the fact that he could see out, but they couldn’t see in. Still it was in his nature to be friendly, so he waved.

  When they arrived at the Oiler’s Stadium he was surprised to see all the other busses and eighteen wheelers already there. He was even more surprised when they walked inside and the stage was already set up and the sound check was being perfected for the night’s performance. Around the stadium were several big screens with his picture on them, then the pictures changed to the other performers, then eventually back to John’s. He found it hard to believe this was really happening for him. Or that it was happening so fast.

  “Maybe we’d better go back to the bus until it’s time to go on stage,” Allen suggested.

  “I think I want to go say hi to some of the fans who are already here, Allen,” John said, pointing to a group of fans up in the stands.

  “Well, just be careful, John,” he cautioned. “There are nuts out there, too.”

  “I’ll be alright,” John answered seriously. “Who’d want to hurt me or Judy?”

  “You never know, John,” Allen replied. “That’s why they’re called nuts!”

  For the next few hours John and Judy toured the stands introducing themselves to the fans who were already there. John signed autographs, accepted kisses and hugs and handshakes from adoring women and children and handshakes from men. He accepted compliments graciously and returned them when he could, concerning the women’s dresses, their children, their hair and anything else he could compliment without offending them.

  After he had moved on the people he had left behind talked about his down to earthiness, his simplicity, courtesy and seemingly lack of ego. To them, he was just one of them. Not one of the hotsey-totsey, famous singers who were far too good, and far too far above the average person to come and say hi and just visit for a few minutes.

  As usual for John he was engrossed with his visiting and had lost track of time. However, Judy was right behind him, having the time of her life visiting with strangers who were making her husband rich and famous. They both looked up suddenly when over the intercom the announcer was asking John good-naturedly, to come join his band on stage and sing for the crowd.

  John laughed, shrugged his shoulders, then took Judy’s hand and together they ran down the long flight of stairs, out across the field to the stage. He waved his free hand all the way to the roar of the crowd. He left Judy at the foot of the stage in her seat and then went up on stage.

  His face was projected on all the screens around the stadium. His name was written in bright neon lights across the back of the stage. Bright explosions like deafening cannonades exploded around him as he slipped the Fender strap over his head and across his shoulder, then started across the stage to the front. His theme music was thundering and the roar of the crowd nearly drowned it out as he took his place behind the microphone and began to sing ENDLESS, the song that had landed him his recording contract.

  When the song was finished, John said into the microphone, “That one was for my Momma. The rest are for you...” the rest of what he said was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

  Unseen by John, Judy, or any of the other people who would possibly know him was Danny Floyd. He stood sullen and angry, staring at the stage and John Travis, his sworn enemy. The reason for his own failure! The very reason for his own failure as a musician. Other than the fact that he had no talent. Or not enough to support a career as an entertainer. Still, he followed the same sullen pattern in Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, Raleigh, North Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa, Dallas, and back to Austin. With every concert his hate and jealousy for John Travis escalated to the point of near insanity.

  When the tour bus pulled up in front of Misty Rivers’ Austin home, Danny Floyd was watching from his pickup down the street. His hatred soared, when Judy stepped off the bus. He could tell she was several months pregnant with John’s child.

  Misty stood in the doorway of her house and watched the members of the band unload John and Judy’s gear and carry it into the house and Judy’s bedroom. She tried unsuccessfully to contain her tears of happiness for her daughter. When she saw she was going to be a grandma the dam broke and her tears flowed. She ran to the bus and grabbed her swollen daughter in her arms, kissed her, then turned to her son-in-law and kissed him full on the mouth. John stood shocked speechless, watching the two women in his life walk back to the house whispering conspiratorially.

  “Thanks for your help, boys,” John said when the last of his gear was taken inside the house and the band members returned.

  They shook John’s hand then got back on the bus. They, like John and Judy, were exhausted and ready for a break.

  When the bus was out of sight John turned and went into the house. He found Misty and Judy in Judy’s bedroom turning the bed back and talking. He turned from the doorway hearing Misty ask Judy, “So, have you chosen a name yet?”

  He looked in on Billy and smiled. Billy was sleeping the sleep of exhausted youth. He seemed to have not grown an inch in the six months John and Judy had been gone. Well, John thought, enjoy your childhood while you can, little man. It’ll be gone before you know it.
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  When John went down the hall from Judy’s bedroom, Judy told Misty, “Misty if it’s a girl and Billy if it’s a boy.”

  “Hopefully,” Misty said facetiously, “it’ll be smarter than it’s daddy.”

  “Momma, behave!” Judy scolded. “John is smart enough. He’s made us rich. He paid your house off and put money in the bank for you. I don’t understand why you don’t like him.”

  “I like John just fine,” Misty said honestly. “He’s just not real smart, that’s all.”

  “He loves me and I love him,” Judy stated firmly. “That’s all that matters to me. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. You wouldn’t believe how his momma treated him. He was raised in virtual isolation from the world. He was home taught until he started high school.”

  “That explains a lot,” Misty said.

  “His momma loved him as much as you love me and Billy, Momma,” Judy said.

  “I don’t doubt that,” Misty replied tiredly. “Maybe she wasn’t so smart either. Well, I’m going back to bed, now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “Her whole world was John’s daddy,” Judy told Misty. “When he was killed something inside her died, too. And she pined for him until she died. That is true love and devotion, don’t you think?”

  “Obsession, more like it,” Misty replied.

  “We’re going to Wimberley tomorrow,” Judy said changing the subject. “John wants to check on his house.”

  “Would you mind if me and Billy tag along?” Misty asked, stopping in the doorway. “Billy worships John, you know. He’d be disappointed not to get to spend some time with him.”

  “That’ll be fine, Momma,” Judy said seriously, then smiled sweetly. “We’ll see you in the morning,” she promised.

  Misty smiled and went out the door.

  Judy sat on the edge of the bed, then lay back rubbing her bulging stomach. She closed her eyes and smiled dreamily. “You’ll be perfect Little One,” she whispered. “Just like your daddy!”

  “You sure make it hard on me,” John said, sitting on the bed beside her, then laid his hand on her stomach. “Now I have to be perfect, too!”

  “You’re close enough to perfect for me,” Judy said with a smile. “Come to bed, there’s a storm brewin’ down south.”

  “I just love a good storm!” John said, quickly undressing and climbing into bed beside her. He gathered her into his arms and held her tightly, kissing her passionately as his desire soared.

  Just outside the window Danny sat listening, crying softly and rubbing the side of his head with the .45 automatic. “But, I loved you Judy! I loved you first!” he moaned miserably.